Tech College Old Boys finished off their Manawatu Hockey League season in style with a free flowing 5-2 win being enough to secure third overall in their playoff with College in Palmerston North on Saturday.
Having dropped their two previous games to College by one-goal margins, TCOB coach Langley Atkinson said the home team did not put out their No1 squad for the consolation playoff.
As he had worked to get his guys motivated for one more week, TCOB responded to lead 2-0 at the break.
College would work to close the gap to 3-2 in the second stanza, but TCOB stepped up a further gear to get the 'bronze' position in the Manawatu league.
"We were quite in control of the match. Our guy's played pretty well for the end of the season, in a game that meant nothing really," said Atkinson.
"The game was pretty free flowing, end to end stuff, but we took our chances."
Patrick Reynolds scored two goals, while Luke Kirk took another from a penalty stroke.
Craig Hilbourne and Brett Puklowski grabbed the other goals.
Looking back on the season, Atkinson said he was "pretty happy" with third, given their slow start with the first win coming in round three while also dealing with a horror run of injuries.
There was only a couple of goals difference between the teams in the Top 4, as evidenced by Massey coming from behind to beat High School Hockey Club 2-1 in the championship final.
Atkinson said having the shorter club season 14 regular games then the finals as opposed to 25 matches was also a disappointment.
He said it felt to his team like their year had ended a month early, although given their injury toll the longer competition could have been a real struggle.
Preparing for next year, Atkinson asked Kirk to stave off thoughts of retirement for another go around, while Puklowski is also wanted to return.
They will also pick up a couple of guys from the young Rangers team, who gave a brave effort in their final game of the year before going down to MCOB 5-4 in the bottom of the table clash.
"It was a really close game, we were up 2-0 about 30 minutes gone," said manager Bryce Balsley.
Leading 2-1 at the break, the game stayed tight till MCOB got the match winner in the dying minutes.
The Rangers scorers were Monty Blackwood, Daniel Thompson and Josh Rainey, with one own goal.
Balsley said goalie Ben Luff-Scott had been the season's big improver.
TCOB women's team 'Techno' already have their eye on season 2014 after going down 3-1 in their playoff for third with College.
Down 1-0 at halftime, Techno equalised with a goal from Ainsley Downs and manager Ian Glenny said for the next 15 minutes it was anyone's match.
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College scored twice in the last ten minutes to pull away.
Unlike the mixed motivations in the men's playoff, Glenny said both teams really gave it everything to claim third for the year.
"We didn't give it to College. Missed opportunities early could have made the difference."
The game went on after the championship final, where Massey made it a great day for their club by beating HSHC 2-0 in a slight upset.
Glenny said while the team was satisfied with their debut year showing, they had to build on it because teams like the local Collegians and Palmerston North Girls High School were likely to be big improvers.
"It could all go pear shaped. The bottom four [teams] have to close the gap to the top three."